Travel safety

I’m currently at Mexico’s annual tourism conference and they’re a happy bunch these days. They’re back in the top-10 worldwide for the number of visitors after receiving 29.1 million in 2014. This is an increase of 20% from 2013 and more than 24% from 2012. This set a new record, one that had stood since …

When a place is getting bad press, do you follow the sheep who run away? Or do you act like a contrarian traveler and take advantage of the temporary opportunity? Like an investor who shuns the hot stock at its peak and buys the out-of-favor values for bigger returns, the biggest payoff for your travel …

The Mexican gangs may not be busted, but Mexican tourism is going gangbusters. Apparently 23.7 million tourists came to Mexico last year, up 3.5% from their previous record year in 2008. Yes, that was six years ago, so it’s been a climb up after a big drop, but a steady, fruitful climb in the face …

More people died in the U.S. last year from “accidental discharge of a firearm” than died in the whole world from airplane crashes. Guatemala’s crime rate is higher than Mexico’s by a wide margin. Eight of the top-10 worst cities for pickpockets are in Europe. (And all of the top 5.) The top-selling beer in …

Travel long enough and you’re bound to end up with at least one story about getting ripped off, scammed, or cheated. After all, your day is filled with multiple transactions in an unfamiliar place where you don’t know anybody, so even if you’re very savvy there are pros out there working people like you every …